Walter Sisulu University
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Leadership Styles and Employee Job Satisfaction: A Case of Head of Departments in Walter Sisulu UniversityMonitoring and Management Mechanisms on Stress in HEI in Eastern Cape Province in South Africa: Critical Review
No full textThis study was based on the relationship between the leadership styles of Academic head of Department and employee job satisfaction at the Higher Education Institution (HEI). In so doing, the study was based on the following questions: What is the relationship between leadership styles of HODs and employee job satisfaction in a Higher Education institution in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A purposive sampling technique was utilised to select the participants, which comprised 80 academic staff members to which the researcher hand-delivered 80 questionnaires. The study employed a quantitative method to collect and analyse data. The study found that Perceptions on the leadership styles of academic HODs at the HEI are varied. No clear pattern emerged on what leadership styles are prevalent. The relationship between leadership styles and employee job satisfaction appears to be nonlinear. Job satisfaction is a phenomenon that is determined by many factors, not simply leadership styles
The Effect of Using English as A Language of Learning and Teaching on Learner Academic Performance in Senior Phase of Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province
No full textThe study sought to investigate the effect of using English as a language of learning and teaching on learner academic performance in the senior phase of Mthatha District, Eastern Cape Province. This study employed a mixed-method approach. The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data. The study was conducted in 3 semi-rural senior secondary schools that were conveniently selected. The quantitative part employed Likert-type scale questionnaires that were administered to 10 Mathematics (Math), 10 Natural Sciences (NS) and 10 Social Sciences (SS) teachers making a total of 30 teachers and a total of 30 learners from grades 8 and 9. For the qualitative part, nine (9) teachers and eighteen (18) learners from the selected schools were interviewed. The 18 teachers in three schools were observed as they taught Grade 8 and 9 learners in their respective classes. Qualitative data were, thus, gathered through interviews and observations. Quantitative data was collected using Likert-type scale questionnaires and was analysed using descriptive statistics and Microsoft Excel. The voice recorded qualitative data from the participant’s responses were transcribed and analysed manually through coding, forming categories and themes that were used for data presentation. These are some of the findings: The majority of learners do not understand English, therefore, it was difficult for them to understand the teaching and learning of the selected subjects in Senior Phase (SP) using English as the language of learning and teaching (LoLT); Although the majority of learners reported that they usually use English as a LoLT and their home language when learning the selected subjects, they still struggled to ask and answer questions in English in a classroom and during examinations; Learners who experience difficulties in learning the selected subjects through the use of English as a LoLT in SP, were taught in their home language (isiXhosa) by their teachers; English and isiXhosa, in the form of code-switching, were used when teaching the selected subjects; Inadequate teacher training and preparation made it more difficult for the learners to perform well in the selected subjects. The study recommends that: The Department of Education should conduct enough workshops to help HOD’s and teachers who teach the selected subjects to keep abreast of new developments in these subjects. These should be integrated with appropriate teaching strategies and learning and teaching support materials. Keywords: English as the language of learning and teaching, teaching strategies, learning, teaching support materials.Thesis (D.Ed) -- Faculty of Education Sciences, 202
Detection of extended spectrum beta‑lactamase genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients in rural Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Get PDFThe proliferation of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa represent a major public health threat. In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial resistance patterns of P. aeruginosa strains and characterized the ESBLs and Metallo- β-lactamases (MBL) produced. Strains of P. aeruginosa cultured from patients who attended Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital and other clinics in the four district municipalities of the Eastern Cape between August 2017 and May 2019 were identified; antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out against thirteen clinically relevant antibiotics using the BioMérieux VITEK 2 and confirmed by Beckman autoSCAN-4 System. Real-time PCR was done using Roche Light Cycler 2.0 to detect the presence of ESBLs; blaSHV, blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes; and MBLs; blaIMP, blaVIM. Strains of P. aeruginosa demonstrated resistance to wide-ranging clinically relevant antibiotics including piperacillin (64.2%), followed by aztreonam (57.8%), cefepime (51.5%), ceftazidime (51.0%), piperacillin/tazobactam (50.5%), and imipenem (46.6%). A total of 75 (36.8%) multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains were observed of the total pool of isolates. The blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX-M was detected in 79.3%, 69.5% and 31.7% isolates (n = 82), respectively. The blaIMP was detected in 1.25% while no blaVIM was detected in any of the strains tested. The study showed a high rate of MDR P. aeruginosa in our setting. The vast majority of these resistant strains carried blaTEM and blaSHV genes. Continuous monitoring of antimicrobial resistance and strict compliance towards infection prevention and control practices are the best defence against spread of MDR P. aeruginosa
Predictors of institutional delivery service utilization among women of reproductive age in Senegal: a population-based study
Get PDFBackground: In Senegal, sub-Saharan Africa, many women continue to die from pregnancy and childbirth complications. Even though health facility delivery is a key intervention to reducing maternal death, utilization is low. There is a dearth of evidence on determinants of health facility delivery in Senegal. Therefore, this study investigated the predictors of health facility-based delivery utilization in Senegal. Methods: Data from the 2017 Senegal Continuous Survey were extracted for this study, and approximately 11,487 ever-married women aged 15–49 years participated. Chi-square test was used to select significant variables and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify statistically significant predictors at a 95% confidence interval with a 0.05 p-value using Stata version 14 software. Results: Facility-based delivery utilization was 77.7% and the main predictors were maternal educational status (primary school Adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 1.44, 95% CI; 1.14–1.83; secondary school aOR = 1.62, 95% CI; 1.17– 2.25), husband’s educational status (primary school aOR = 1.65, 95% CI; 1.24–2.20, secondary school aOR = 2.17, 95% CI; 1.52–3.10), maternal occupation (agricultural-self-employed aOR = 0.77, 95% CI; 0.62–0.96), ethnicity (Poular aOR = 0.74, 95% CI; 0.56–0.97), place of residence (rural aOR = 0.57, 95% CI; 0.43, 0.74), media exposure (yes aOR = 1.26, 95% CI; 1.02–1.57), economic status (richest aOR = 5.27, 95% CI; 2.85–9.73), parity (seven and above aOR =0.46, 95% CI; 0.34–0.62), wife beating attitude (refuse aOR =1.23, 95% CI; 1.05–1.44) and skilled antenatal care (ANC) (yes aOR = 4.34, 95% CI; 3.10–6.08). Conclusion: Uptake of health facility delivery services was seen among women who were educated, exposed to media, wealthy, against wife-beating, attended ANC by skilled attendants and had educated husbands. On the other hand, women from ethnic groups like Poular, those working in agricultural activities, living in rural setting, and those who had more delivery history were less likely to deliver at a health facility. Therefore, there is the need to empower women by encouraging them to use skilled ANC services in order for them to gain the requisite knowledge they need to enhance their utilization of health facility delivery, whiles at the same time, removing socio-economic barriers to access to health facility delivery that occur from low education, poverty and rural dwelling
A panacea for public participation during Covid-19 and beyond in Matjhabeng Local Municipality
Get PDFSince the inception of Covid-19 in 2020 in South Africa and the subsequent lockdown levels that were introduced in order to mitigate the effects of this pandemic, public participation in municipalities has experienced a serious knock. Public participation forms the most important legislative principle for good governance in the South African government. While,the literature is showing that Covid-19 has affected the South African public sector in numerous ways, the tension that was created by the challenges inclined to public participation in the South African municipalities during the pandemic has not gained much attention. Apparently,communities were not even aware of the measures that were introduced to conduct public participation during this period of Covid19
Theories of Job Satisfaction In The Higher Education Context Education Context
No full textIn South Africa, stagnant economic growth and high unemployment rates have called for solutions from all key national institutions, including institutions of higher learning, to provide solutions. This call must be considered within the transformation discourse that arose in South Africa after the fall of the apartheid regime in 1994 and the need to equalize educational opportunities, reduce poverty and improve lives through education. All this underscores the need for a vibrant motivated, satisfied and dedicated workforce. To explain and understand the phenomena of job-satisfaction several theories have been suggested by Maslow, Vroom, Adams, McGregor, Herzberg, Alderfer’s and other authors, however theories on employee job satisfaction varies with time and place, the old theory needs to be either modified, or replaced with a new model. The study attempt to synthesize the theories of job satisfaction in the Higher Education Institution in Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. The study adopted a desktop that was designed primarily as a descriptive study to source literatures on motivation, job satisfaction, and theories. Theories are neither right nor wrong rather it depends on the context where it is applied. Theories need to be restructured according to the new areas of research in human psychology. The evidence established from this study suggest theories of job satisfaction have to be tested against these emerging factors of positive psychology and their impact on human behaviour at individual, group and organizational levels in other Higher Education institutions in South Africa. Keywords: Motivation, Job Satisfaction, Theories, University
The Profit motive and the enabling environment for Growth of Survivalist Township Entrepreneurship: A Study at a Township in Cape Town
Get PDFThe paper draws attention to the profit motive in respect of survivalist entrepreneurship at a township environment in Cape Town. Survivalist entrepreneurs have received little specific focus yet they represent a significant portion of economic activities in South Africa townships. Essentially the study considers the problem of failure to grow among survivalist entrepreneurs as reported in related literature. Many survivalist entrepreneurs fail to grow beyond the survivalist phase and there is no consensus on the underlying cause for such a phenomenon. With the Covid-19 pandemic, there is an expectation that survivalist entrepreneurs are likely to multiply owing to the collapse of many small businesses as well as the loss of employment arising from the pandemic. Two specific objective were formulated for the study: (1) to inquire into the business motives of survivalist entrepreneurs and (2) to assess the perception of the survivalist entrepreneurs on the degree to which the small business environment in supportive of motive attainment. The study adopted a quantitative research design based on the selection of respondents using a convenience sampling strategy. The evidence established from this study suggest that survivalist entrepreneurs do not pursue the profit motive significantly but they faced inhibitions presented by the economic environment in which they operate. Government and other stakeholders in the national economy are recommended to develop a suitable legal and institutional framework with strong structures to ensure the growth of survivalist entrepreneurs Keywords: Survivalist Entrepreneur, Township Entrepreneurship, Profit Motive, Small Businesses
Protocol for a prospective descriptive prevalence study of catatonia in an acute mental health unit in urban South Africa
Get PDFRelationship between Endothelial Function, Antiretroviral Treatment and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in HIV Patients of African Descent in South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study
Get PDFExternal Factors affecting Blackboard Learning Management System adoption by Students: Evidence from a Historically Disadvantaged Higher Education Institution in South Africa
Get PDFLearning Management Systems (LMS) have the ability to transform learning experiences of students in Higher Education Institutions (HEI). In addition to the developmental benefits, LMS assist teaching and learning during student unrests, a common feature in historically disadvantaged institutions in South Africa. Regardless of the benefits of LMS platforms such as Blackboard, the utilisation by university students at the institution under study has been very low. Applying cross sectional electronic survey, this study identifies the key factors influencing technology adoption, as identified in the General Extended Technology Acceptance Model for E-Learning (GETAMEL), behind perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness in the adoption of technology. A sample of 125 students at a historically disadvantaged institution in South Africa was considered for the study. Data was collected to understand their perceptions on use of Blackboard Learning Management System (BB) for learning. Data was analysed with SmartPLS statistical analysis software. Results show that perceived ease of use of BB is influenced by computer self-efficacy, computer amusement and computer anxiety whilst perceived usefulness of BB is influenced by subjective norm and computer enjoyment. The findings also show computer experience to significantly affect computer self-efficacy and computer self-efficacy to affect computer enjoyment. The article presents the external factors that affect the usage of LMS at one of the historically disadvantaged HEI in South Africa. HEI leadership has to prioritise the identified external factors to increase chances of acceptance and utilisation of Blackboard by learners